It's believed indictments of Dimora and Russo in the federal corruption probe may be coming soon.

Some Democrats wondered why Garson decided to make a request which is bound to draw more media attention to the party's high profile officeholders linked to the corruption probe.

Others speculated that he thought it best to put distance between the party and Russo and Dimora, who was its former chairman, as voters begin to make early voting primary choices for new county offices.

The controversy has spilled into the Senate race, where Republican Rob Portman is asking where Democrat Lee Fisher stands on Dimora and Russo's continuing in office.